Since I'm updating all my current fics, I might as well do this one as well. Thanks for the reviews.
Warning; Mention of nits or headlice, whatever you call it.
Chapter 4; Bugs, hugs and doodles.
"You sorted things out with Red then?" Bryan asked the next morning, his head in Nix's lap and her fingers running through his hair.
"Yeah, I think he's a little wobbly when it comes to girls, give him time."
"Thanks Nix, you know I think having you around might help the others like it did me." he said sincerely, ruffling Cal's head feathers with a finger.
"Well if Kai plays his cards right he'll end up dating Hilary."
"Anyone special out there for you Nix?" Bryan asked seriously after a while.
"No Kuzzy, after Corbin I've lost all faith in men, heck I've lost faith in most things, including myself." she mumbled, fiddling with the drawstring on her trousers.
"What? Why Nixy, you've done nothing wrong."
"Tell that to Zapdoborg. Every time I pick her up she's either launching things at me or trying out a new form of electrolysis on my hair. On top of me not being able to see anymore."
"Well if need be I'll take care of her for now while you get things sorted out."
"Thanks Bryan…" she leant over and pecked him on the forehead and headed for the stairs.
"Is she gonna be ok?" asked Ian.
"I hope so Ian."
The Blitzkrieg boys walked down the morning after that, in their pyjamas to the smell of breakfast, seeing five plates fully decked with toast, sausages, scrambled eggs, the works!
"Food!" yelled Ian, trying to make a dash for the table when Kai held him back.
"I see five plates of food, no dirty pans, the sink is clean…"
"Look, on the fridge." said Tala, Bryan reached over and read the post-it note.
"Mornin' boys, enjoy your breakfast. The dishes are done, I've gone to get groceries. Love Nix." he read aloud. "PS. The coffee should be brewed by now…" they all looked to the coffee machine, the pot full of hot, fresh coffee waiting for them.
"She's blind and she did this?" asked Kai to Bryan, letting Ian go.
"Seems that way, Nix has her methods of coping, one of which I think is Calcifer." he laughed, sitting down and picking up his fork.
Ian picked his up as well, another note stuck on the handle.
"Freshly squeezed O-J in the fridge. Nix… Sweet." he hopped down and opened the fridge to find a jug of the stuff. "And she took the bits out, Bryan I love your cousin!"
"She seems to have gone to a lot of trouble." frowned Spencer, stabbing a sausage. "You don't think it's because she thinks she has to prove something since she's blind?"
"Possibly, she has been feeling pretty useless from what I can gather, I shouldn't have told her about the fact we can't cook to save our lives." Bryan shrugged, as the room was then filled with five sets of cutlery working through the meal.
"Man that was the best." said Tala, patting his stomach.
"You think she'd agree to teach at least one of us to cook?" asked Kai.
"Ask her and find out." said Ian, pointing behind them. They all looked up to see Nix carrying bags of groceries into the kitchen. Wearing a black cropped top with a red fishnet vest over it and her cast, and jeans.
"Morning boys." she called, picking out apples to put in the fruit bowl.
"Morning!" They chorused.
"I'm guessing breakfast was a hit?"
"Sure was." said Kai.
"Thanks Nix." said Tala.
"Couldn't teach me to cook could you?" asked Spencer standing and gathering the plates.
"Sure thing." she smiled, but he noticed it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"How did you know I don't like lumpy orange juice?"
"More habit than anything else. I don't like it either." she smirked, now picking out a star fruit from the bag.
"Is that edible?" asked Kai. Nix felt the fruit.
"Yeah, they taste a bit like grapes." They soon discovered about five fruits they had never heard of before.
"We'll get the rest." said Bryan, he, Tala and Kai making their way to the front. Ian skipping after them.
"Are you alright?" Spencer asked, as she went back to emptying the fruit out of the bag. "You seem a little tense."
The was a pause as she lowered her arms.
"Is it that obvious?"
"'Fraid so." he said softly.
"It's silly."
"Spill or Bryan's gonna give you the third degree."
"Some… idiot got a little frisky with me in the market and then wondered why I floored him."
"Want us to go beat his sorry arse?"
"Nah, I think I got him good." she said, rubbing bruised knuckles. She carefully sat on Kai's vacated chair. "Any of that orange juice left?"
Spencer pulled a plastic tumbler from the cupboard and filled it from the jug. Kai had been wise to purchase plastic over glass with Tala and Bryan around.
"Well if you managed to stand your ground to slug him one… why so… tense?" he asked, placing it on the table beside her and reaching for the first aid supplies. "And I bet that was hard enough, not being able to see your target."
"Simple, I'm sick and tired of guys treating me like a fuckin' trophy." she snorted like it was funny. "Tala I can understand because he's in unknown territory but every other stinkin' idiot…" she huffed and rested her head on the table. "I'm sorry, I haven't the right to rant at you Spencer, it's not your fault."
"It's ok, I actually know how you feel, fan girls are such a pain in the arse, the chasing, the squealing, the proclamations of marriage…" he snorted, checking her knuckles.
"I'm just sick of feeling like a side of beef." they sighed in unison, then they started laughing as the others walked in.
"God-dammit girl how much did this set you back?" asked Tala, carrying a number of bags.
"Nixy? Spencer…" said Bryan slowly.
"Huh? Oh not a lot." she shrugged. "The market I use is pretty cheap. Ow!" she flinched when Spencer sprayed some antiseptic on her hand.
"Sorry."
"Now what you done?" sighed Kai.
"Floored some idiot for coppin' a feel. I'm sorry if that's a problem."
"Will you stop saying that woman, you're no more a burden than Tyson is a gentleman." bit Spencer.
Bryan blinked at him and looked to his cousin, who had nothing but a confused frown.
"OK… can we get this lot away before there's an ice cream puddle in my kitchen?" said Kai.
"Sure. Let me wrap Nix's hand first."
"Thanks Spencer." she smiled.
The 'putting away' had been quiet, save the quiet whimpers from Nix as she reached too high, Spencer having to come to her aid.
"There's an easy remedy for your ribs to stop hurting… don't reach so high." he teased.
Nix just stuck her tongue out at him, he was surprised to see it was blue and pointed it out.
"Sweets that change your tongue colour." she laughed.
"You're such a kid." Ian snorted.
"You more so. A nosey one might I add."
"I'm overly curious." he pouted. Nix smiled at the short Russian, before pulling him into a hug. Ian froze.
"Relax, I'm not going to crush you." she whispered, stroking his hair. "And don't get any ideas… you're like a little brother." she mused.
"Really?" he asked, his blood red eyes shimmering.
"Yeah." she smiled.
"That… is the nicest thing anyone's said to me." he sniffed, burying his face in her shoulder and sobbing.
"Aww bless. Well as long as I'm around and you need a hug or something…"
"Thanks Nixy."
The four taller Russians looked on with a slight longing in their eyes, Bryan smiling.
"Should we be worried?" asked Tala.
"Nah." said Bryan, reaching up and placing a bag of rice in the cupboard. "Ian's just a kid at the end of the day." he added. "Maybe Nix is the one that could help him realise that."
"Because we're all perverted old fogies?" taunted Kai.
"She's lived in the outside world."
"I've had my fair share of problems too Kuzzy. But if I can help you guys where needed I'll be glad to."
"Right, we're taking the next two weeks off training." said Kai.
"Tyson will love you."
"I said we were, not my so called team." he walked over to the phone. "Guys, Kai. Something's come up and I'm gonna be away for a while. Ray, Kenny keep up the training regime. Tyson for once do as your told when told or I'll bounce your sorry arse. Max, lay off the sweets and Hilary… I'll see you soon. Keep nagging Tyson for me." he hung up. "Must be at school, answer machine."
"You went a nice shade a pink when you said Hilary." teased Bryan.
"Can. It."
"Kuzzy, you on a wind up again?" Nix called from the fridge.
"No Nixy." he smirked, moving beside her and pecking her temple. "How you feeling?"
"Like shit." she grumbled. "Stupid hospital drugs always mess with my internal balance."
"Doesn't do us many favours either." sighed Tala. They all now sitting on the couches in the lounge.
"Gah, god-damn this bloody itch!" yelled Kai, scratching his scalp.
"Stop it Kai, you've got me going." said Tala doing the same.
"What the hell, my head's never itched like this." growled Bryan as the phone rang, Nix picked it up, having managing to mentally map out the house and the items in it.
"Hiwatari residence? Hi Ray, Kai said you guys were at school… That makes a lot of sense, they're gonna hate this… first, get everyone to cover their hair in conditioner, then meet me at that little chemists by the hobby shop… it only takes one person Ray. See ya in a bit. Bye." she hung up and stood up.
"What did the kitty want?" asked Tala.
"Why aren't they at school?" demanded Kai.
"Bug epidemic. Nits have been found on a large scale."
A collective groan of disgust echoed round the mansion.
"When I get hold of Tyson and Ray I am going to murder them." Kai growled.
"Kai, it's easily remedied, just give me ten minutes. During which, all of you put conditioner on your hair and make sure it's covered. Now that's an order." she said grabbing her wallet and making for the door. Calcifer hopping to her shoulder.
"NIX!" She turned around to feel a bundle of money pressed into her hand. "For this morning."
"Kai, there's way too much-"
"Just take it and hurry up!" yelled Bryan, running up the stairs behind them for the bathroom.
Lucky for Nix the hobby shop was a short walk when she met Ray outside the chemist.
The Asian teen was very apologetic when he saw the rib cast as they went along the shelves and Nix pulled things off them with Calcifer's affirmative/negative noises. She had told him to 'quit fussing!' as she paid for them and explained to Ray what to do with the purchases. Ray thanked her and then asked if he could sign her cast.
She stepped back into the house, a small 'Get well soon, Ray' and a kitty face on the white plaster and bag in hand.
"I'm back guys." she called. All five Russians with their hair slicked back, she tossed them the combs. "Run these through your hair, wiping it after each stroke. Ian, come here I'll do yours."
"I'm gonna murder Tyson." grumbled Kai.
"Ray's leaving him 'til last." Nix laughed, sitting on the chair with Ian on the floor in front.
"Ow! Damn comb." growled Tala where the fine teeth caught.
"This is the pleasant part, the treatment reeks so make the most of it."
"You do realise Bryan and I are going to be done before you guys." Spencer pointed out.
"What do you want, a medal?" grumbled Tala.
"Well when you're done, the bottle of stuff is in the bag, instructions are pretty straight forward." said Nix, pulling up a hair clip and securing some of Ian's violet locks into place, feeling her way through the lengthy process …
"I can't believe how much that stuff reeks, hair dye smells better."
Three hours later and everyone, including Nix had been conditioned, combed, treated, combed again and had their hair washed. Nix having to lay on the worktop as Bryan rinsed her hair in the sink. Their pillow cases in the wash.
"You would know Kai?" taunted Ian.
"I walked in on Tyson's grandfather dying his moustache." Kai shrugged.
"Old people are strange, scares me that I'll be like that one day. Well you guys are now completely bug free." Nix sighed lightly, hugging Bryan from her seat on the worktop, burying her face in his hair. "You took my advice in using that mint and lavender stuff then." she chuckled.
"Yep, and I see the kitty signed your cast. Remind me to do so later."
"Stop calling him that."
"You haven't seen him with a ball of yarn." smirked Tala.
"Kai."
"Bryan."
"Since we're taking the next two weeks off, what are we gonna be doing?" Kai's face faulted at the question.
"I didn't think that far."
"That was smart." taunted Spencer, looking in the fridge for something to snack on and pulling out a carrot.
"What do you lot want to do?" asked Nix. Bryan went to open his mouth. "Yes I know you want to go to the bird of prey sanctuary Kuzzy."
"You scare me when you do that."
"Birdbrain."
"Careful Kai, your bit beast is a bird too, sacred on not."
"Zoo!" cried Ian.
"Yeah, to take you back." teased Tala.
"Meanie."
"Since it's open for discussion, I wouldn't mind visiting an aquarium." said Spencer.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Now sitting in the living room, they were thinking of something to do.
"Nix, what's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?" asked Tala.
"Dye my school's headmaster's hair blue." she replied. "It was a prank destined for this girl I hated and it went hilariously wrong."
"Seriously?" said Spencer, sitting on the floor in front of her.
"Yeah. When was the last time you guys had a hug and I mean a proper one?" said Nix.
"Ten minutes ago." snickered Bryan.
"Earlier." said Ian.
"When I gave Hilary that bear." said Kai, his cheeks pink.
"Um… when Max hugged me last week on one of his sugar highs."
"Never." Was Spencer's sad tone.
"Really?" said Tala, staring at the blonde. "Dang."
"I mean, who's gonna wanna hug me? I'm the powerhouse that would slam you to nearest wall if you so much as touched me."
"The papers are a load of bullshit Spen." said Bryan, Nix pouting.
"Do you have any other talents besides cooking?" asked Kai, changing the subject. Bryan grinned.
"According to Bry I give a very good head massage. Then again I like playing around with people's hair." she admitted, half tempted to run her hands through Spencer's which she knew was in front of her.
"Yeah, remind me how you did cane rows on me again?" asked Bryan.
"God knows. They were funny on you" she grinned.
"Can you plait my hair?" asked Ian.
"Ian you can't keep asking things of her. It's rude."
"It's alright Kai, plaiting I can do in a couple of minutes, even blind, I used to have hair as long as his." she said, pulling his hair back and beginning to plait it.
"So what made you have your hair-cut?"
"One word, Kuzzy."
"She wanted something different and she was never allowed to cut it. So me and a pair of scissors solved that problem."
"And I didn't even mind that he butchered most of it." Nix laughed, tying Ian's plait off.
"Butchered, sounds about right." snorted Spencer.
"Hey!"
"Pack it in guys or I'll bang your heads together. Kuzzy, you said you'd sign my cast." she pouted.
"I'll sign it." said Spencer, the phone ringing as she produced a marker.
"Hiwatari…Hello Mr Dickinson. That's in two days? Damn, we've got someone with who's blind and three broken ribs staying with us… they need to rest…. But! Argh! Fine. Bye." he hung up angrily. "Stupid guy can't take no for a friggin answer!"
"Problem?" asked Spencer, signing his name next to Ray's on the plaster.
"Stupid penguin suit job at some five star hotel in the next city. Every world class blader is going apparently so that means we do too."
"But what about-"
"She's coming with us."
"Well I can't get into a little black number with this thing on." she tapped her cast.
"You'd look good in anything though." Spencer blurted out before thinking.
"Aww, thanks Spence. Bet you'd probably look pretty suave in a tux."
"Not that any of us have got one mind, well, Kai might." Spencer was red to his roots, looking much like a tomato in a straw hat.
"Don't look at me. I haven't got one, which fits anyway. It might fit Ian though."
"Shit, it must be old then." Tala said.
"Care to go clothes shopping tomorrow boys? Rent your tuxes, new outfit for me, just a chance to be normal guys. And I need to get some chicks or mice for Calcifer anyway."
"Yeah if we get them rented first thing, then we can go to the zoo or something afterwards." said Tala.
"You know what Tala, I think that's a good idea." said Kai.
"Wow, Kai gave a compliment." said Ian.
"It's better than you guys having a dig at each other all the time." smiled the cobalt eyed girl. "Spencer, what are you drawing?" she asked, feeling Spencer doodling around his name.
"Stars. Not a problem is it?"
"Not at all."
"Spencer's the only one I know that can draw and make his blade draw a perfect star." said Bryan, uncapping a purple marker and signing his nickname and surrounding it with a quick falcon design. "Looks good if I do say so myself."
"Bighead." sighed Spencer continuing his doodle.
"Oi Spence save some room for the rest of us." called Ian, looking for another marker.
"I'd never thought I'd get my cast signed by the Blitzkrieg Boys, let alone have one of them doodle on it."
"Yeah Spen, why are you doodling?" asked Ian, signing his name in red and handing it to Kai to do the same.
"I'm not quite sure actually." Spencer frowned, he just felt compelled to doodle.
"Well finish the star you're doing and you can help me rustle something up for dinner."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Anything you guys fancy in particular?"
"Nope." was the reply. Nix just shook her head.
"You guys are so easy to please." she sighed, Spencer helping her up.
"We eat anything." said Tala.
"So what are we cooking?" asked Spencer.
"I was thinking either Spaghetti Bolognese or Chilli Meatballs. Vote now."
"Whatever's easier for you." shrugged Kai.
"I dare you to say that again." she growled. "Make a decision somebody."
"Chilli meatballs and Spaghetti with the Bolognese sauce." said Ian.
"Ian, you are a genius." she called, pulling things out of the cupboard.
"So what can I do first?" asked Spencer, joining her.
"Set a pan of water to boil and could you find the cornflakes for me? Then chop up that packet of coriander."
"Cornflakes?"
"The meatballs call for crushed cornflakes." she laughed, bringing out the mince from the fridge. "Now where's that Worcester Sauce?"
Nix then instructed Spencer in cooking said meal.
"Consider me a talking recipe book." she said, setting the table.
"The water's boiling." Spencer announced.
"Well get a handful of Spaghetti… break it in half and put it in, then do it twice again."
"Seems a bit much?" he frowned, placing the dry pasta into the pan.
"It'll be enough, trust me." she said. "The sauce can be done last when the meatballs are done. Now take a pinch of the mince and roll it into a ball about the size of a um… a small beyblade."
Soon three trays of meatballs were in the oven and the spaghetti almost soft. Nix and Spencer were just waiting, Bryan, Ian and Tala and Kai had disappeared.
"Intense couple of days, huh?" she mused.
"You've added a little zest to things that's for sure."
"What am I, a lemon?"
"Nah, you're too sweet for that."
"Aww thanks Spen." she laughed, ruffling his hair, making it spike up more, then she started raking her fingers through it, massaging his scalp.
Spencer had to admit, it felt really nice.
'Quit it, she's your best friend's cousin, he'd kill you.'
"What shampoo do you use?"
"Um… this blue herbal essences stuff. Ray recommended it."
"He seems to know his herbs, I should have a talk with him at this do we're going to."
"He'll probably be to busy trying to pry Mariah off his arm."
"Oh the pink overload. She scares me."
"Doesn't do Kai many favours either." Spencer smirked. "Bryan was right, you do give a good massage."
"You have the cutest little ears." she said randomly after a minute running a finger over the curve of one.
"Um… thanks?" Spencer raised an eyebrow at her.
"I'm sorry, I'm terrible for cute things."
"Girls." he sighed, shaking his head as he checked the spaghetti and put the sauce in another pan.
"The Spaghetti's done."
"Drain it using the colander."
"Colander?"
"Bowl, usually metal or plastic, has holes in?"
"Oh so that's what that is." he reached over her head to pull it off the top of the fridge-freezer.
"It seems I have my work cut out." she mused.
"Do you want me to get the meatballs out?"
"Uh huh, and use an oven glove."
"I'm not that daft."
"Just checking." she smirked. Spencer thought the little wrinkle of her nose was…
"Stop it." he grumbled under his breath, pulling the trays out and putting them on the side.
"Stop what?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing."
Whoops.
"Spencer… I want to thank you for putting up with me these past few days."
"It's ok." he replied as she stepped away from the sink. "And no you haven't been a burden so don't start."
She nodded, and hesitantly wrapped her arms around his middle, cheek to his chest.
Spencer blinked, she was hugging him, he felt the same warmth from her now as he did on the Waltzer. Uncertainly he placed his arms around her, cocooning her in rippling muscle.
Hugs were nice, he concluded.
0o0o0o0
Kai and the others returned carrying bags of either wine or fizz.
"Interrupting something?" asked Ian.
"Shut up Ian." said Bryan.
"We've got to dish up anyway, right Spen?"
"Sure."
"These meatballs are brilliant!" Ian had cried, eating two in one mouthful, until Kai glared at him.
"Glad you approve Ian, but please don't talk with your mouth full." said Nix.
"You're such a mother hen." Bryan called to her.
"And you're doing the dishes, Kuzzy."
"Ah man!" he grumbled. Tala made a noise like a whip cracking. "And you Tala can help dry them and put them away."
"Dammit." he sulked, Spencer copied his earlier sound affect.
"We bumped into Max earlier. He informed me of something I wish he hadn't." said Kai, sipping a white wine.
"Well don't leave us hanging Hiwatari." said Bryan.
"We are requested to dance with the girls."
"Great." sulked Ian.
"I'll dance with you lot. It doesn't say you have to dance all at once. Plus Kai will hopefully ask Hilary. That's if it doesn't dent your pride too much."
"I knew there was something I liked about you." grinned Kai. "But there's still one problem."
All the guys groaned.
"We can't dance Kai, why do you think we avoid such things."
"Don't worry about it, we'll burn that bridge when we come to it." Nix shrugged, throwing a bit of meatball for Calcifer to catch.
"You scare me sometimes Nixy." Bryan sweatdropped.
"Ah, I scare everybody." she shrugged, eating her last meatball and whistling to her hawk perched behind Kai at the head of the table. He flew over and she stroked his feathers. "Good boy Cal."
Bryan watched his cousin with soft eyes, she hadn't even been with them a week and they had all come out of their shells a little more.
A bit long there but what can ya do? ... Review of course!